NBC Officially Cancels Jay Leno's Prime-Time Show

NBC's not-so-long national nightmare is over. The network confirmed Sunday they've asked Jay Leno, whose months-old show has sagged in the ratings, to move back to 11:35 p.m each night. NBC Universal Television Entertainment Chairman Jeff Gaspin told reporters Sunday that the network envisions Leno to bring the funny for a half-hour program before handing off to Conan O'Brien's 'Tonight Show' at 12:05 a.m. No deal has been struck.

The news, delivered at the TV Critics' Association (TCA) Press Tour in Pasadena, comes just days after Leno used his talk-show pulpit to skewer NBC on the day that various media reports emerged that his days at 10 p.m. may be done. Leno taunted his network by saying "I hear Fox is beautiful this time of year" and joking that the trust between him and the Peacock network is gone.

Gaspin said despite lower ratings for NBC at 10 p.m. compared with last year, the network was making money off the show. "I think over time [Leno show ratings] might have started to grow. For the network, it was not yet a wrong decision."

"While it was performing at acceptable levels, it did not meet our affiliates' needs. My goal right now is to keep Jay [Leno], Conan [O'Brien] and Jimmy [Fallon] as part of our late-night lineup. As much as I'd like to tell you we have a done deal, we know that's not true."

Affiliates were upset that the show was leading fewer viewers into their late news programs, costing them significant advertising revenue. Some told NBC in December they would go public soon about their complaints if a change wasn't made, or even take Leno's show off the air.

"I would have liked nothing more than to give this a 52-week try," Gaspin said. "Affiliates started calling, saying local news was being impacted more than expected. In some cases, they had the No. 1 news show, and now they were No. 3."

"The drumbeat started getting louder," he said.

Gaspin has proposed moving Conan O'Brien's "Tonight" show to 12:05 a.m., and Jimmy Fallon's show would start an hour later. But the late-night hosts had not agreed to the move. Gaspin said he expected NBC's late-night situation to be cleared up by the start of the Olympics.

"I can't imagine we won't have everything in place before then," he said.

As for O'Brien and Fallon's reaction to his proposal, Gaspin said both men had acted professional. "Beyond that, it was a private conversation," Gaspin said.

Both Leno and O'Brien have addressed the debacle on their shows, with the former landing the most pointed attacks at the peacock. Details

PopEater's Rob Shuter reported on December 17 that NBC was courting Jerry Seinfeld to replace O'Brien in the hopes of boosting the slot's sagging ratings. Unfortunately, NBC was unable to ink the deal according to Shuter, which led the network to change Jay's time.

At the time, NBC spokesperson Drew Shane called the claims "Completely false," adding that "Conan is the host of the 'Tonight Show.'" Oh really?

So with a gap to come at 10 p.m., what will NBC air instead of 'Leno'? Gaspin said that in the short term, viewers will get "two hours of scripted, another reality hour and combination of 'Dateline' or repeats."

none of this would even be happening if jay leno didn't make his big speech a few years back about wanting to retire and then changed his mind at the last minute...although i really don't watch any of the late night nbc shows anymore cause they all stink .. i think jay leno should just retire and leave nbc.

I don't think he should have had a prime time spot, let alone all 5 weeknights? I don't like Jay, I know he is Opraph's friend but sorry. I watch Letterman, Ferguson, & Fallon on occasion. I don't know why NBC thought people would want 5 nights of Leno! I wish they had thought of this way back or before now?

About time these celebrities fail and stop getting everything they want. So his show didnt make it, big deal! They all have 9 lives, Leno will move on and still be making millions. Cant feel to bad for him!

Jay announcing in 2004, that Conan was going to be taking over the 11:35pm slot was supposed to eliminate all of this messiness. History is repeating itself and once again Jay is in the middle of a huge clusterf**k. GO AWAY JAY! You're not funny and clearly, based upon ratings, your time has passed. Go work on your cars and let Conan have his time in the spotlight.

You have it right, he was the one that wanted to retire, he gave the exact timeline when he wanted to retire, and then when it came down to the wire he started trying to undo it. I don't like any of them so it doesn't matter to me, I could care less, but a deal is a deal, if I was Conan I would sue Jay Leno and NBC. Jay Leno has had his chance, he has made money hand over fist. I don't know what NBC was even thinking about taking up that 9 pm slot with his mess, they canceled far better shows.

Susan, I couldn't agree more. Leno has got to go. He made such a big deal about retiring, and passing the show on to Conan, so why didn't he RETIRE!!!! NBC gave him another show, and he has failed. Leno had his turn, now he needs to do the right thing and let Conan and Fallon have their turn. How would Leno have liked it if Carson did to him what he is doing to Conan? I used to think Leno was a great guy. Now, I have no respect for him, and will no longer watch him.

it's not just leno who's losing ratings. almost every show on nbc is down. could it be because they lost NFL, the only college games they have are lame-assed Notre Dame, and their news department has spun so far to the left that they may qualify as a gov't agency. [Whitehouse Media Office, maybe]. I'm sure losing to fox on a 24/7 basis must hurt, so maybe they should try bringing back rock-solid ratings-magnets from their hey-days like, Hello, Larry, joey, or the hogan family.

Susan, you sound like a 5 year old who didn't get the right toy to play with. As for Jay Leno retiring he is just in his prime and should keep going for some time. Maybe you should just go to bed early and forget about him retiring. Only you will be doing that.

From what I remember he did not want to retire. NBC told him that when his contract ended they were having Conan take his place. Thats why he was looking at other networks to do his show. And thats why they put him at 10pm. They did not want to have Conan go against him at 11:30. I think NBC messed up and should have never moved Conan in and Jay out.